Next course with Ernst October 2019

Ernst and his meticulous planting plan

Syntropic Farming

La Loma Viva is pioneering the work of Ernst Gotsch in a Mediterranean climate setting, We are researching and implementing his Syntropic Farming techniques in a semi-arid environment. In Brazil, Ernst has successfully demonstrated that degraded land can be rehabilitated into abundant, edible forest systems, regenerating the soil and increasing biodiversity. This is achieved by observing and imitating patterns in nature. At his home in Bahia, on a large scale their project has even had an effect on changing the local climate and improving water sources. A film called "Life in Syntropy" was made about his work (see link below) and a non-profit of the same name has been created to research and document his method. He is now setting up trial sites all over the world to test his technique in different conditions. We will be offering courses and internships on Syntropic Farming, working closely with Ernst and the Life in Syntropy team.

Ernst first visited La Loma Viva in 2016 and the seed was sown to begin a trial site here. In 2017 we set up our initial research area of 1000m2 during our first training course with Ernst. We planted a few hundred trees and a variety of plants and vegetables in a densely stacked, multi-species system. A thick layer of wood chip mulch is used initially to protect the ground from evaporation, minimise the need for irrigation and begin the process of mimicking a forest floor. As the system develops it produces the biomass needed to create its own fertility with no further inputs. Syntropic Farming uses constant pruning to fast track succession and the to create a productive forest ecosystem.

For more information on Syntropic Farming and the work of Ernst Gotsch go to: